Our son and daughter-in-law just purchased their first home. It's in a location that allows an easy commute into Boston, where our son works, and is just a few towns away from where his wife works. The house is in a older suburb adjacent to Boston, and is itself older and in need of some TLC. So rather than move in right away, the new homeowners will stay in their apartment until the lease is up. They'll spend just about every free moment of the few months getting their house ready to live in.

Of course, we didn't let them do all of this alone. Uncle Ralph and I traveled to Boston to spend a week helping them clean, paint and otherwise get the house ready. One of the things that we really helped with is how to prioritize tasks. Since it's getting close to winter, we stressed the importance of getting only the most basic outside things done. Fixing up the yard, cleaning the siding, touching up the paint etc. can all wait for the spring. What really needed to be done is the inside, not only so they can move in but so they can live there comfortably through the approaching winter.

With that in mind, here's a list of tasks that needed doing. It'd be great to hear from you what your list of tasks would be.

1. Change the locks on the exterior doors. As soon as the closing is over and you've gotten the keys to your house, either buy and install new lock sets or have a locksmith come to the house to switch them out. Let's face it, the previous owners, Realtors, maintenance folks and who knows who else are all likely to have keys to your place. For some peace of mind and as a necessary step in making this house yours, get new locks installed immediately.

2. Get the house cleaned up. While many folks will leave the house clean for you, some won't. Even if they do, you'll want to clean everything for yourself. You can hire a service to do this, something I heartily recommend if time is tight, or you can do it yourself. If you do it yourself, set up an area with all of the supplies and tools you'll need to get the job done: buckets, brooms, mops, a vacuum, cleaners for each type of surface etc. Washing down cabinets, counters and plumbing fixtures and cleaning the carpeting etc. will make you feel good about the house. And don't forget a healthy supply of rubber gloves. No sense ruining that manicure!

3. Paint all the walls and ceilings. This can be really time consuming, so you'll probably want to hire professionals if you can. There's no point in just slapping up a coat of paint if the walls and ceilings are damaged — if they have cracks, holes and other defects. Prepping these surfaces can be a real chore. So unless you have a relative or two who can help, save yourself a lot of time and just hire someone.

Also, if you're short on time and the house is in dire straits and every surface needs painting, consider one neutral color for every room. This will just make it easier and limit the number of decisions you'll have to make now. You can always go back and repaint rooms the colors you want as time permits.

4. Get some organizers. Many older houses suffer from closets that have a simple pole and shelf (if that). Look at where you'll store what and get the closets outfitted to accommodate everything, to make moving in less stressful and your life in the new house more enjoyable.

And don't just look at the closets. Think about where you'll put everything, from winter boots to laundry detergent. A well-placed extra shelf, coat hook etc. will go a long way toward making the house that much easier to live in.

5. Install new switch plates and other devices. Many older houses, especially those that have undergone a series of renovations, will have mismatched outlets, dirty and discolored cover plates, and rusted or damaged air vent covers. I find that replacing all of these so that there's a uniformity and newness to them makes a home feel newer and, understandably, cleaner. While switching out a cover plate takes nothing more than a small screwdriver, bear in mind that replacing electrical devices isn't necessarily a good DIY project unless you're really comfortable working with electricity.

6. Have the mechanical equipment cleaned and serviced. Do this as soon as you buy the house. Getting the heating and cooling systems cleaned and other routine tasks done is important — as is getting a service contract so if the system stops working in the depths of winter, you'll not have to overpay to get a technician to come to your home.

We've always had good luck asking our new neighbors which company they have found to be reputable and attentive for this work. It's also a great way to meet the neighbors.

7. Install window treatments. Whether you have these custom made or you go for some inexpensive and temporary shades, you'll want to get some something on your windows — both for privacy and that finishing touch.

There will be time later, as you live in the house and get to know it better, to choose a more personalized option.

Have you bought a new house? What's on your to-do list before you move in?

Great list! I have moved 5 times in 10 years and the most recent with 3 small children into a 90 year old fixer. Thankfully, we had a few months to prepare before the move. I SO agree with the changing of the switch plates and vent covers- for a few bucks, it makes such a huge difference. I also painted the entire house white (ok, a few different whites) but taking the stress out of choosing helped, especially considering we had to WASH all the walls and ceilings beforehand. Great advice, Thanks Bud!

Having moved a few times ourselves, my wife and I always considered a really good cleaning to be our purifying effort. To us, there's nothing like a really clean house that has been cleaned with natural cleansers (vinegar, carnauba wax, etc.).

Wish we had removed the popcorn ceiling before we moved in - would have been WAY easier than 2 years later. Also, while rooms are empty, it's relatively easy and not that expensive to update/beef up the baseboards.

Along the lines of new switchplates, take a close look at interior door handles. Our house had three different finishes, and untold number of styles. Changing them out to something more uniform also makes a big difference.

While some closet organizers can help, I find living in a space gives me a better idea of what I need and I'd wait for closet organizers. It can be hard to figure out that your coat closet is really too small, so you want to use the second hall closet for coats, too and find somewhere else to put your cleaning supplies.

Given that every quote I've had for painting is $1,000/room, painting with the expectation you're going to repaint in the not-so-distant future is quite and investment.

I'd add, try to extract from the owner all the manuals or download manuals for all your appliances/furnace/security system before you need them. Locate all the smoke detectors and check them. Nothing is more tedious than not having hot water, having to get to work and not having a clue how your hot water heater works, or even where it is. (Been there, done that, it was on a timer and when the clocks changed, it's timer needed to be changed, too. The heater was in the upstairs hall closet, the timer in the kitchen).

Interesting list, and glad that I did all of these. First, we had all of our locks changed. The previous owner had a janitor's keyring looking set of keys that went to 7 exterior locks, plus two gate locks and none of them matched. Fortunately, most of the locks were of the same brand, so we only had to purchase two keyless entry deadbolts, then had them all re-keyed so we could reduced our keyring down to just one key, and one gate key.

Because the deadbolts are keyless, we don't need to carry a house key, but if we did, it's nice to know we only need one key.

I'm selling my mom's house, that she left to me when she passed, and I had it professionally cleaned, then cleaned most of it again right before we moved out. Had the carpets cleaned, too. That place is totally move in ready. I'd never even consider leaving a place dirty. Okay, I'd consider it, but wouldn't do it.

Buy new smoke detectors!!! Old ones wear out. We didn't realize all the detectors were not working in our first house until we started remodeling. Yes, we changed the batteries but didn't push the test button. Out of six installed, zero worked. Cheapest fix, $25 for a six pack of smoke detectors.

Great list! I'd also add that having your heating/cooling system serviced is a good idea as well. Even just replacing the filters can increase the efficiency of the units.And thanks Bud for using one of my photos (window treatments.)

Moving often involves negotiated closing dates. It is far rarer for people to move, and have the opportunity to attack a home in an real decorative way! Generally the house is pretty clean, as the last thing that happened prior to move, was inspection for closing! A better idea is to come prepared to clean things like the interior of the refrigerator, as in take it totally apart to be scoured. Even one day for cleaning and sanitizing the important spots like kitchen and baths will help make you at home. If you KNOW you will be painting/remodeling in any major way soon upon arrival, perhaps arrange to store some things for a later move to the home. Don't waste money on "temporary" decorative window treatments other than simple privacy in bedrooms and baths, or where you're blinded by sun if you can help yourself! Redishade makes some good ones that will do the trick until you decide what privacy options best suit your style and your home. In most cases, you will find the "privacy" was left behind by the previous owner, as all fit those windows......no point in taking them with. If you're stuck with a prior owners ugly decorative treatments? Remove them!!

Even if the house has been professionally cleaned, I would always clean it again myself. I am not only much more thorough than any professional cleaner, but it's also a good way to get to know all the nooks and crannies and to take possession of the new home.

Get the carpets cleaned professionally. if you want to refinish wood floors do it before you move in. It gets everywhere and into everything. Unless you are moving into a fixer upper don't bother with the repainting most home owners re paint before selling they tend to paint neutrals. If you know the colors you want go for it. And no new window treatments unless privacy is an issue save your money to get what you want once you have the house done up

We just moved into our new house in August. Our to-do list included: refinishing the floors prior to moving in, replacing floor board moldings, adding crown moldings (want, not a need), painting everything, cleaning fireplaces and having necessary chimney repairs done, cleaning all the windows, replacing torn window screens, filling cracks in garage, fixing some electrical issues, replacing/correcting and cleaning dryer vent, re-staining and filling cracks to the deck, having the house professionally cleaned, replacing all CO detectors and fire detectors...the list goes on and on. And I haven't even purchased one piece of furniture....the house will sit pretty empty for a while, but that's ok : )

All are wonderful suggestions, especially changing the locks. I'm a professional pet sitter, and over 20 years have had many clients who've sold their homes and told me not to bother returning their keys! The new owners have no idea that I, a total stranger, have keys to their new home. But, having said that, many people may be strapped financially immediately after buying a home and may have to wait to do some of these things that require an outlay of cash. I know we had to wait for a while to get a little cushion financially when we bought our current home to start many of the things we planned.

I love the list and feel it is spot on. I would add to clean all the vents and duct work--even in a new house! Pet hair, dirt, drywall dust, etc. will start circulating as soon as the heat/ac is turned on.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have lined up a cleaning crew and carpet cleaners as soon as we knew our closing date. We moved from the pricey West Coast to the Midwest, so we were able to afford a "luxury" home here. I assumed a home in this price range would be left clean for us to move in, but found quite the opposite. It was filthy. It even had hair in the kitchen drawers. Ugh. I was unable to hire a housekeeping service on short notice--and at the holidays--so spent three days scrambling to get a large house clean, all by myself, before the movers showed up with our stuff. I never did get to the carpets, and had to have those done after everything was delivered. Live and learn.

We just bought a house that was very dated. Here is the list of things we did right away.
1. had hardwood floors completely redone, stripped and stained a new color.
2. Cleaned
3. painted and took down very old and dates wallpaper
4. Installed new closets (we just had a pole and shelf)
5. added recessed lights (no overhead lights in any rooms...ahhhh!)

My husband and I bought our first house in May. It needed some work and a major cleaning. Being pregnant and having a 1 year old little boy, my husband and the professionals tackled the major repairs and a lot of the painting over the first 5 weeks when I stayed with my family. We prioritized the rooms we would need most immediately (son's room, family room, kitchen, etc...) and this really helped. We left the extra rooms and tackled those over the weekends and when we had time. If you plan to redo any hardwood floors, do it before you move in and plan a major cleaning and have help on hand. No matter how great your contractors and subs are, that fine dust goes everywhere. The best advice our contractor gave us, was to live in the house and really think about the changes we wanted to make in terms of gutting and structural changes. He said, it would save our budget and give us the house we wanted and needed in the long run. He is so right. We will probably tackle the master and family bath next spring and my ideas on that have changed completely since we first moved in. I don't need 3 full baths (I have a 1/2 on the first floor) and the tax implications are ridiculously high so we've already decided to do 2 really great bathrooms. Also don't rush out and buy a ton of furniture if you think you are going to change the layout of the house in the next few years and the same goes for window treatments. There are great inexpensive solutions (Ikea, Target, etc...) that can help you make it homey without breaking the bank on something that not might fit or work in your home in the near future. Most importantly, remember that you don't have to do everything all at once. My husband was driven to get all his projects done ASAP, but it meant that every waking moment he wasn't at work, was eaten up with painting and other projects. This was ok for a bit, but after a couple of months, It really started to get to me. We needed family time and to do things that didn't involve home improvement. We struck a balance and he now does some stuff on the weekends, but also prioritizes so that its a little more balanced. I hope this helps!

I really appreciated that the former owner of our old (but clean, thank you) house left tags labeling the water cutoff valve, appliance warranties, and other important things to know. It might be nice to have an article about how to hand over a home gracefully, as well. Thanks for this great info, Bud!

Great list! I broke the key in the front door lock the first night we moved in, but no matter, we changed all of the locks three days later. The previous owner had different locks on all of the doors! Why? Who knows!! The carpets had already been cleaned by her, but we ripped all of it out within two months anyway to expose the hardwood. Cleaning is definitely the major must! Every nook and cranny!

I bought a house built in 1951. Due to fast turnaround on moving, I did not strip and stained and I have regretted it ever since! Now I am getting ready to sell this house and I expect that to be an issue!

We just changed our front door lock from keyed to a numeric keypad. We will never, ever lock ourselves out again! And the next owner can just change the code without having the expense of a new lock. The next owner AFTER I die because I'm never moving again.

I'm actually inspired by this article to look around my house of 10+ years and think about what a brand new owner would do. Some things are harder to do when it's being lived in, but a lot of these ideas would be a great way to freshen things up around here.

If moving into a really old home, research it's history, record it and prepare a time capsule--include perhaps a current local newspaper, snapshots, souvenir, etc.--seal in a plastic food storage box, and put somewhere like under a floor board, in attic joists or wherever a space becomes available during repairs/renovations.

This is a good list-cleaning isNumber one. For me, changing commode seats, if it is not new. When I purchased my first house, it was a renovation. The house was older but updated. I like these kinds of houses because I can personalize by changing out light fixtures, painting and other little things. Love the opportunity of living in a house.

We just bought a short sale and we were lucky to have a friend to help and 2 months to work. The house is now painted top to bottom literally inside and out. New floors a few new appliances and we are ready to look at the retirement picture. It was tiring but so worth it

After I bought my house, I did all the things mentioned in the article and more. For starters, I had some bad decor to mediate/eliminate. I figured just to spend the money and do it right away to make sure that the house was really my taste. Also, did some basic remodeling; i.e., making arches higher to make spaces seem bigger, adding light fixtures where needed to make an old house brighter.

BUT, THE BIGGEST THING I SUGGEST BEFORE MOVING IN:Redo flooring. Hardwood, tile, linoleum, etc. Don't think "Oh we'll do that later ass the budget allows. Use your Home Equity Line of Credit or a credit card. It'll be easy to pay the money back over time. Plus, once all your stuff is moved in it'll be an incredible headache to try to refinish floors.

Agree on the floors! Once you're in the house it is incredibly difficult to refinish hardwood floors. You basically move all of the furniture out and stay off of the floors for two weeks. Get it done before move-in

We just moved into a new construction home - despite lots of planning, I am still dealing with the organization issues as I unpack. I wish I had planned ahead with drawer organizers. A trip to the Dollar Store solved that. I appreciated the suggestion to leave the outside until spring. I am still wondering if there are some things to do that will help me cope with an unfinished yard until spring. Suggestions?

Before you change the locks, check for a little slot next to the keyhole (on newer locks). If you see a small hole, it's a Kwikset that you can re-key yourself with a little tool and the original key. Realized that on our house, and it saved us some money.

If the previous owners had pets or its an old home or was very cluttered: bug bomb. Two homes we've had were full of (starving) fleas. We discovered it after taking the dogs to "visit". Didn't see a spider or house centipede for a while. Yeah yeah, chemicals. But I don't do fleas!!!

Pull carpet if you want the floors underneath to show (see also - fleas comment). Agree with the cleaning - (not that we're so perfect, but it's different if it's your own dirt).
Suggest waiting a year for gardening so you can see what's there.

One thing I didn't notice when reading through this thread is spraying the house inside and out for pests. It is much easier to spray inside without furniture and without anything in the cabinets and drawers. The perfect time to kill any crawling thing.

I appreciate the focus on the new homeowner taking responsibility. It's difficult when a Buyer acts like a Seller owes them a brand new house. I'm not suggesting the Seller can be negligent, but it is a "used" house.

Martha - avoid the temptation to throw down bark to keep the mud down until you landscape. The stuff is insidious, it gets EVERYWHERE, is full of splinters for the kids and cannot be used to amend the soil when you plant. IF you're trimming trees, the wood chips from the trimmings are MUCH better and are a good mulch for the future. Ultimately, I removed the bark and threw down sod until we have our landscape plan implemented. good luck!

Paint the inside of the closets. You'll probably never clean them out comepletely to paint them ever again. So take advantage of the time before they are filled to the brim. They will look fresh and bright and ready for you to organize all your belongings.

Great list. I agree with window coverings at all windows. You can buy inexpensive at Ikea or Walmart and it just makes it look like home. Bare windows - unless the design of the house incorporates open window spaces - keep the house looking unfinished or temporary. I bought closeout matchstick blinds at Walmart when we moved in and liked them so much I've kept my cheap temporary blinds for 7 years. I just added nice lined panels to frame them when I decided on colors. I also buy new toilet seats:)
Now

For an older home with lots of trees in the yard have your sewer line inspected for tree roots. And, if appropriate, get the septic tank cleaned out. If it wasn't done prior to purchase, get any wells inspected. You'll know where you stand on those things instead of finding out the hard way. Getting the furnace and a/c serviced is good. Also empty out the hot water tank. Get rid of any sediment. And the dryer vent is very important. Few people know to clean this out regularly. Lint is very flamible. Spoken by a victim of a house fire.

My closing was delayed so I lost the week I had planned to use to do many of these chores. It's been a real pain trying to clean and fix things while living among boxes. One thing I would add to the list is shampooing or steam cleaning the carpets.

A couple purchased an older home in early fall and while having coffee one morning at their kitchen table looking out the window, the husband mentioned to his wife that the view could be improved with a large swath of daffodils come spring. During the next few weeks the couple planted hundreds of bulbs. Thanksgiving and the husband making a few repairs visited the local hardware store. The proprietor, not recognizing the husband, asked if he was new in town. Yes, he said, we bought the old Standish place. To which the proprietor said, oh, yes, wait till you see the thousands of daffodils on that hillside come spring!

Great site, love the images...my suggestions is to try buying tag sale furniture! It's the best way to score for le$$ I've gotten umbelievable items for our 2nd home there and am thrilled. Try this site in NY www.artifactsli.com
Good luck!

Good article and great/useful photos. To everyone's "immediate" and "most urgent" list I'd add right along with toilet paper: LIGHT BULBS/LAMPS. Nothing is as startling as realizing it's the first night of your move-in to an older home that doesn't have ceiling cans, and realizing you don't have lamps or bulbs unpacked, you have rooms with no overhead fixtures, you can't find your flashlight(s) and you've been so focused on unpacking that you don't notice ... the sun is going down.

The day we moved into our present home, a crazy lady walked right in the front door with her dog! As it happened, the locksmith we had arranged for followed her in. She was escorted out after asking the guy to come to her house to do her locks too! Since that happening, we always keep the doors locked even when we're home.

As for cleaning-my last home sold because the buyer said it was the cleanest home she'd ever seen, so tidy up before you show it and leave it spotless. I also left a phone list of local eateries and takeout, businesses, and service providers, and a schematic of my beloved garden for the new owners.

I agree about pest control. We removed 13 mice the 1st winter we lived in our new ( old) house. I realized it was a common issue when an ENTIRE aisle at the farm store was dedicated to mice/rat control. I used live traps. Found out that they loved packing peanuts when I was unpacking.

Great list! I wish I'd had time to do more than clean and repaint two rooms before moving into this house, but I had to vacated my previous one and had only a few days in which to work. I also never considered refinishing the floors, which weren't bad but hadn't been done in decades. I subsequent had the downstairs ones refinished, which involved moving out for three days and cleaning dust for three weeks--but it was worth it.

Good article but you did leave out a few things, at least for me. I would add to your list to clean carpets your self, this time of year spray for insects that might be looking for a nice warm home for winter, clean the furnace and change air filters and lastly caulk or recaulk windows, doors, and where wiring comes into your home.
We bought an older house this summer and had a delay in closing from the sale of our house to the sale of the new house, a very long holiday weekend. The people were bought from was nice enough to let us out all our things in the new houses garage until we closed. That way we didn't have a huge rental truck expense. Our realtor let us into the house to spray for insects, thankfully she did this, when we closed and came back to our new home we found dead scorpion, grass spiders and such. With in a few days the satellite guys were out to set up from the move and had to redrill for new lines. But missed filling in around one cable line. That was just found over the weekend while recaulking outside windows, that should have been done months ago.

djbittle - we moved from a bad neighborhood to an exceptionally good one, but I keep all my doors locked all the time anyway. And the previous owner of our home was unwillingly displaced and for the first year we were here she swore a blue streak that she still owned this house and would be moving back in. Almost had to get a restraining order put on her! You cannot be too safe.

Great list. I'm closing on a new place and before painting, I'm making sure to remove the old carpet and put new flooring in. I think the carpet in there is from the 80s (dark blue) and who knows what it may have in it no matter how much I clean.

I bought a home built in 1968 this year. We pulled up all carpeting, paid for cleaning service, and bought a 5 gallon paint sprayer to prime the house white. Wood floors were hidden and spent time pulling staples and nails up. I saved an old closet organizer from apt living and will use it for now. I did go through and re-scrubbed the bathroom. It wasn't dirty; sometimes cleaning it yourself makes it cleaner somehow. We are "forced remodeling" due to unforeseen issues, but it's starting to feel like this is my home and not like I'm staying at someone else's.

We just moved for the first time in 20+ years and it was a quick move into a house in "not-so-nice" condition. The first thing I invested in was a Wagner steam cleaner ($88 Amazon). Steam cleaning sanitizes and flushes out dirt that rag cleaning pushes in such as around toilet bases, sink fixtures, appliances hardware etc. I intentionally did not use any air fresheners until the whole house was "steamed"...odors disappear when their sources are eliminated. The steam machine is also good for washing windows, screens and removing wallpaper. I use a solution of ammonia and water sprayed directly onto tough surfaces first to cut the grime.

We were able to have the house we live in now repainted walls and ceilings before we moved in and to have it cleaned after that because we were moving from house we owned and didn't need to put on market right away...Put down acres of shelf liner in much larger kitchen/pantry and in two extra bathrooms and more closets--took days for us to do just that probably...with help of a friend...I think having time to make all this happen when you buy a home is great but also pretty uncommon...As someone previously said, there are often problems that delay closings and time to make improvements vanish...

When we sold our last home, the buyer wanted to come in before closing and have window treatments (woven blinds I think) installed and move in her appliances (W/D and fridge)...We offered to close sooner so she could do that on HER property but she was closing on house she was selling and couldn't move up that date...so she had to wait...The house had been cleaned top to bottom, carpets shampooed, and windows in and out though.

At vacation house we bought in FL 18 mo ago we found that even though the sellers left the house in great condition we still had cleaning service in...mainly because of dust on all the hard-surface flooring...We didn't replace toilets which I would have liked because we anticipate redoing bathrooms in year or so...they are vintage to the 70s house and putting a new toilet in a vintage green/yellow bath would have been as much an eyesore as it was a benefit.

SUGGESTIONS I WOULD OFFER--take photos of all the rooms and measurements of room dimensions, window sizes, and think about furniture placement BEFORE you actually move...memory isn't exact...that way if you need anything specific you have info..

THINK about tight places where furniture might be difficult to move in--like large pieces up narrow stairs...movers often charge extra for doing stuff like that if you are paying commercial firm to move you...

Have windows cleaned IN and OUT--you never would imagine how much better an atmosphere that creates--especially if the outside windows haven't been cleaned in years...

BUY FIRE EXTINGUISHERS and FLASHLIGHTS to use in case of emergency...

PETS--IF you have pets who are chipped--contact that oversight company and update your address...also contact your vet and let them know your new address...Pets can easily become "lost" during a move and if your information is out of date, you will have much more trouble locating them...moving is also stressful for pets...

Personally, we have put our pets in a kennel for the immediate move days to ensure they aren't around open doors to the outside and come into the new house once furniture is straight...We had cat that was trapped in cabinet for 3 days during a move years before because he was in extra bathroom not used frequently...we were panicked he had gotten out and gone back to his old home--which was in another state...

MAIL--make sure that you give someone at your old address info about your new address...it is certainly possible that you will get something sent to the old address after you have moved and might need someone to forward...after your 12 mo forward request at post office has expired...plus postmen get lazy about pulling out mail that doesn't belong to you...I know WE don't know the current address for the people we bought our FL vacation house from...and we continue to get mail more than a year afterwards...

There was another great post on Houzz some time before about not being in rush to just throw furniture into a home but take your time and make the house yours...that is smart and beneficial insightWe lived with a card table and folding chairs for over year in vacation house before we found a MCM breakfast set at thrift store...we could have BOUGHT something much sooner but couldn't find something in our budget that fit the space/look of the area...glad we waited even if those folding chairs were not comfortable.

We added attic insulation, soffit vents, and an electric exhaust fan with a thermostat. It has made an incredible difference. We knew the utility bills of the previous owner and we have virtually cut them in half. Quite honestly we cannot tell outside temperatures when we are indoors. The house is so well insulated that it holds temperatures for extremely long periods.

We just bought a condo and are doing pretty much everything listed in the article. We handled some safety issues like rewiring our the condo and bringing all of that up to code. We replaced the HVAC system. We also added gutting both the master bath, and the kitchen. We've planned the color palette, and we're going to start painting this weekend. Because it's a small condo, we plan to paint ourselves rather than have it done by a professional. We'll save some money there and put it towards renovation of kitchen and bath.

My biggest regret is not having had all the hardwood floors refinished before we moved in. To do it now would be much more of an ordeal but would make such a big difference to the overall look of our home.

We just moved into a newly constructed house, but we still took time to change things that the track builder wouldn't do:- change the flooring and add recessed cans to the BR that became my sewing room- install a nicer backsplash and nicer cabinet pulls that the builder didn't offer- add a half wall and columns around the DR entry- install a custom closet that I designed on EasyClosets.com (love it!)- add ORB towel bars (never enough!) and grab bars (we're baby boomers)- build a bump out behind the upper cabinets over my front load W&D on pedestals, so I can reach the cabinet contents- install ceiling fans and light timers- add shelving in the garage- paint the really high ceiling in the MBR a darker color, to bring it downAll well worth the time and expense!

While this is a good list for some, I think it totally depends on what type of house you are buying and the time you may have available. We have had 6 major moves in 20 years and most of those have been dictated by employment changes that were not our choice, if you get my drift! Usually it meant my husband started working at the new company a few weeks or even months before we sold our house. Promptly followed by a lightning actual move so that kids could get into school etc. I have not once experienced the luxury of being able to get things done ahead of time, nor had the financial resources to do so.

I do agree that cleaning is essential; Getting manuals from seller; checking smoke detectors (although I think that should be taken care of during home inspection). On my WISH LIST for a couple of the homes we have lived in would be: re-doing floors, re-painting or removing wall paper. While some real estate agents' words still echo in my memories about easy "cosmetic" upgrades, un-decorating can be tedious and time-consuming. What springs to mind is the blue late 60s bathroom with chipped tile, or the pepto pink masterbathroom sink and toilet. Not really cosmetic. In 2 of our homes, including our current plus 100 year old home, it was in move-in condition, restored and novated and spotless. A true luxury but then again we were not just starting out, and we now HAVE the luxury of taking our time to make the house reflect our taste and style. There are still constantly little jobs to be done, part maintenance and part decor.

Having said my 2 cents, your list is a good one for a beginner with time prior to a move! Congratulations new home owners!

When we first saw our house we were so impressed by how clean it was. It immediately felt welcoming! However, we ended up hiring professionals do some carefully planned, basic renovations before we moved in. We had the old, low ceilings raised in the original section and the same wood flooring that is throughout the house installed in the back hallway and two bedrooms. An additional set of windows and a slider in the two bedrooms opened up our view to our backyard. We had recessed lighting installed in the kitchen, sunroom and MB. Light switches and thermostats were replaced to match and glass paned interior doors added lightness. Finally, the interior was professionally painted and new outside latches were installed by my husband after the contractors were done. What we saved by downsizing to a 1970's ranch, in an accessible but more rural area from where we used to live (and our son and his family still live), we were able to afford to make our new home just what we want - and it was so worth doing in advance. We love the quiet, our just friendly enough neighbors, and being surrounded by stone walls, open fields and lovely gardens. Our chocolate field lab is happy too! Finally, since we are in the shoreline area of the Northeast, we recently hired an electrician to install a switch for an electric start portable generator. It is amazing what retirees can do on a fairly modest budget, when you are ready to downsize to a smaller home.

I hated washing walls and windows until I got a new steam cleaner when we moved in, I was so surprised how well it worked. It got oily residue off the kitchen ceiling, cleaned the windows spotlessly, and sterilized everything as it went. I didn't have to use TSP before painting after cleaning with the steamer. I have as a renter also wiped down the walls with apple cider vinegar to get rid of smells.

Another thing with a fixer upper like we have, is to make sure there are no water issues - leaks, leaking faucets or hose spigots, grading issues where water will run toward your house, gutters inspected and cleaned, trenches for water runoff dug deeper where necessary. Washer and dryer outtakes checked. Also tree limbs cut that are interfering with the house or roof.

For our current home (acquired last spring) we refinished the hardwood floors, painted everything except the bathrooms (1962 wallpaper project saved for another day) and minimally cleaned (didn't need much) and built a backyard fence. Took about 2-3 months. Switch plates had never been changed, including the outlets so we kept them as is (I love bakelite). No, our biggest issue was getting rid of the furniture in our old home to start again (it was a much older home with a very different aesthetic) and cleaning it up for tenants.

I'm glad you included that part about getting gloves to protect that manicure. I love to look after my wife's pretty little hands while she's doing all the cleaning, that way her nails still look good when she serves me my evening martini.

As soon as your offer is accepted by the seller start going through your things. It took us 6 weeks to move out of the house we sold. Fortunately the buyer was a contractor and he moved his dumpster onto our old property so we were able to literally toss things as we came to them. After twenty five years in our starter home we had accumulated so much unneccessary stuff we couldn't believe it! That was our greatest challenge. Not moving into the new home, but moving out of the old home! Next, I totally agree with everyone about cleaning. The previous owner's idea of clean and our idea of clean were not the same. Sticky, greasy, goopy, etc. If it is at all possible, do the painting, replacing flooring, etc., before you move in. Having contractors in our new home was very disconcerting. We felt like we were sharing our home with strangers. Our seven year old granddaughter did not to sleep in her room for weeks because she didn't think of it as "her" room. We would find her sleeping on the floor in our room cuddled up with her Tinkerbell blanket. Getting the kids settled comes before arranging the living room furniture or getting things up on the walls. I remembered the lamps and toilet paper but didn't think about new toilet seats until I read another poster's comment! Eeewwww! Gonna do that today! Of course you'll want to check all the smoke alarms, change the locks, etc. There were so many things we had to re-learn after being in the same house for 25 years! We still feel like "newbies" and we've been in our new house four months now. The most irritating thing we found was that EVERY cabinet door, knob, towel rack and anything else held together with a screw was loose. Also the cabinet doors didn't have bumpers on the edge, so everytime we closed a cabinet it sounded like we slammed it. We carried a screw driver and a card with little felt dots everywhere we went for two weeks. Be mentally prepared for little annoyances. A trip to Lowes or Home Depot will usually fix them!

Ahhhh...happyasaclam just reminded me of the purging we went through...as I was packing I had boxes for Goodwill and trash in every room and did a presort while packing, it was amazing how much was tossed and donated, especially in the kitchen! Also sold a few boxes of books to a used book store and used the credits to buy gardening and home project and repair books.

Contrary to advice #2, I would NOT buy cleaners for every surface. It's un-necessary and can be dangerous to breathe so many toxic fumes that are abundant upon getting a home ready move-in quick. Eco-friendly products ONLY or better yet, use vinegar and baking soda to clean everything. You can rent a carpet cleaning machine to control what goes into it. Or buy a Hoover and do it yourself w/a non-toxic dish soap, and a little vinegar. Carpet cleaning companies use very toxic chemicals in their machines that gass off dangerous fumes. You will be breathing this stuff at night. I know. I got sick from all the chemicals. Re: paint ~ use AFM Safecoat paints. Purchase an air filter that removes dust dander and VOC's.

http://www.houzz.com/user/danieleigh I used the steam cleaner literally everywhere. I did use ammonia to cut through the grease/dirt first, let it sit then hit it with the steam cleaner. I had appliances that I thought were beyond saving that came clean.

All these comments remind me of a REALLY good hint: When negotiating the terms of the contract, specify that the seller must have the home cleaned PROFESSIONALLY prior to the final home walk-thru. Maybe even get your Realtor to select a reputable cleaning service and put that firm into the contract too. I've had previous owners just broom sweep it clean and it just isn't enough.

Rather than paint everything builders' white or beige with the idea that you'll figure it out later and repaint once the furniture, window treatments, area rugs, wall hangings, etc. are in place, why not take your best shot during the build?

Our painter charged us $150 per color change over and above the base cost of the house which called for a single-color paint job. We went with 8 colors in a 3 bedroom 2,300 sf home without any decorator assistance...the painter said that was by far the highest number of changes per sf. he'd ever seen, so this approach would seem to be highly unconventional.

However, In the end, the open great room/dining room with semi-open kitchen which we did all in one color could probably use an accent wall to break it up, and the master bedroom yellow might be a shade or two too dark, but in the end the results were far better than white or beige across the whole house, and we have desire to change 80% of it. Given the additional cost of the color changes ($900...he threw in one free color change out of the 7), and a little DIY for the ones we might want to change at some point), we think we're way ahead of the game compared to the cost and time of repainting every room as the white/beige becomes tiresome. And how many of haven't gotten through painting the entire house to our liking 5 years on?

I also got the garage and basement stairs painted for $700 rather than have that stuff bothering me for a couple of years before I can get around to it. Just to show I'm not a complete slacker, I did paint 2300 sf of basement floor with everything shelved and organized.

One is already running around matching flooring samples, light fixtures, counter tops, back splashes, window treatments, etc. with pictures of existing furniture, area rugs, etc. (either literally or in the minds eye) when planning a new build. Why not add paint chips to the process?

ChickieD - That's really terrific advise. While most people would never leave their place a mess for the next person to deal with, some will. Our kids would have saved some money and some time if the folks they bought the house from had bothered to leave it clean.

@clairefromthecolonies,
I know EXACTLY how you feel. For our entire career we were "quick" moved to new assignments with five days to buy a home and immediate report to work! No time for anything beyond basic survival!

So, when we retired I told my husband I wanted ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD to find my retirement home! (and I took most of that time : ))

Then when we did purchase in the "perfect" location, we took months to renovate and prepare for move in. It felt like such a luxury to have that "time" for thought and investigation.

Paint the entire house? Many people paint it just before putting it on the market to make it more marketable and give it a nice, clean appearance for selling. Why would I then go and re-paint everything again? The previous owners of my house did a nice faux finish in the living room and entrance way, and I never even considered painting over it. I like it. And as for the vent covers - what if they are antiques or original to the house and therefore an odd size? I tried replacing one and I couldn't find one anywhere that fit.

If you buy a used/older home, get a home warrantee. I'm not in the insurance business, I'm a real estate broker. I tell this to my clients and I did it myself. Bought a house with a top of the line stove and fridge, they needed work within the first year, glad we saved so much money having a warrantee. Make sure you know what the warrantee covers, most will have an extra add on for washers, dryers and refrigerators. Appliances cost thousands to replace and after spending so much on a house, saving some money on repairs and replacement is important. Many warrantees will cover the cost to replace a stove etc. that cannot be repaired.

This is especially true if a house has been a rental for any period of time. Most renters don't take care of a house the way an owner will so expect the unexpected when purchasing a previous rental property.

frankly, after having spent who knows how many hundreds of thousands of dollars buying a home, why would anyone want to take on these often costly updates? Redo the closets? Repaint every wall and ceiling? That's thousands of dollars!
Change the locks I agree with, but re: heating/ac maintenance, ask for that at closing. A smart seller will have already done it, and a smart buyer will ask for it before moving in. No need to pay for that as a new homeowner.

The home warranty we got was worthless...they totally blew appointments, then had to come out 3 times and still did not make the repairs...gave up and hired a professional. It was part of the contract that the seller paid for, and we did not have the option to shop around etc.

@ bclowg
how did you buy a house without a fire inspection? I have never bought or sold a house without one, and they usually require that all smoke/carbon monoxide detectors be current and fully operational.

@gypsyrose17 - fair enough, but it's worth noting that a buyer should ask for that. Heating/AC is part of the house you're buying - no buyer should be expected to pay for repair/maintenance themselves.

The list you provided was fantastic. However, it didn't mention anything for the house's exterior. Maybe it's because I'm in Minnesota, but I would want to have the roof inspected for possible leaks prior to Winter. I'd also want to be sure the gutters are cleaned out to prevent issues come Spring.

In addition to updating and matching door hardware, changing hollow core doors to solid doors is a surprisingly big upgrade- everything from the "feel" of the heavier door to sound and temperature control is improved as a result. Any of course, do anything that involves sanding. Obviously, you want to schedule the sheetrock or floor guys before the vent cleaners!

bosslugger...you get the home inspection and know what's wrong, and get the estimates for the repairs...the sellers just don't want the time and hassle of making the repairs and credit the purchase price.

gypsyrose17, 11 months after owning our home the refrigerator went and the broiler on the stove went. Our warrantee replaced the refrigerator and repaired the stove. No inspection can see into the future if something is going to break down.

RSVP....we had no idea that the company was one of the worst in the area to deal with, we thought we were getting the protections you speak of only had no way to view a contract to see what they would and would not cover....hindsight does nothing for you:(

gypsyrose17 the home warranty company I am dealing with is completely useless too! And their call center isn't even in the U.S. But they're right there with their hands out to take the money, aren't they?

gypsyrose17, I'm a Real Estate Broker with RSVP in Seattle, the company I used was First American and they handled everything within 24 hours. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. Please read my full bio before thinking I work for someone other than a Real Estate Agency.

Pest Control! Had no idea until summer when a rash of spiders (black widows) hatched.Also have heard of Weevils ( is this correct?) living not just in dry goods, but in the baseboards, backs of cupboards and the like. Also, with winter approaching, do clean the gutters. This is a biggie for roof health, and comfort. I hate trying to get through a walkway that has an overflowing Gutter!

M - a good step outside if you are in a new place w/ no yard is to buy a few packs of local native flower seeds - rake them in to the soil now, so they have time to pop and give you some happy surprises in the spring. Even better if the birds return them to you with a little fertilizer. . .
If you are in a temperate, desert or meditteranean climate, then fall planting is actually the best time to put in new plants - after the first soaking rain. This allows root systems to establish and develop before spring heat asks them to bolt without sufficient foundation.

cbrina...our area gets black widows...neighbor told me to spray them with wasp spray, it immobilizes them and you can kill them. Also spray a good dose into a wet/dry vac and vacuum their webs and any of them around, they will be immobilized by the wasp spray and then crushed by the force of the air in the canister as their underbellies are soft (that's their Achilles heel).

Our current home was a new build by the owners who relocated 6mths after moving in. The listing agent had it cleaned from top to bottom while it was on the market. Made moving in a lot easier and after we got settled we had it cleaned again due to all the mess and dust we made unpacking. We still have the same house cleaner after 6+ years. There was no landscaping. We hired someone to draw up plans so that we had a map to follow/or change as we could afford to do planting. We have taken this approach with each home we have owned.

The previous owner had dark colors in the LR/DR, Master bedroom, and loft. Since I don't do dark very well, I had these rooms painted prior to moving in. Thank goodness, it was clean, just did minor touch ups before moving in.

Thank you for this article it was gonna be a showdown between my husband and I about whether or not we (I) hire someone to deep clean the house - it was gonna be an epic battle but you settled the argument and I won ..... The house will be deep cleaned before we move in by professionals - THANK YOU

Floors done first., then wallpaper stripping, demo, all the messy tasks. Cover the new floors with heavy paper to protect them from the movers and workers.
I also had a page for each room with measurements for the room and the windows, a diagram of the room and a list of what I needed to get, like draperies, light fixtures switch covers, towel bars, etc. Then when I was out shopping, I'd have my list no matter what store I was in whether it was a linen store or a hardware store.
When we packed, we put toss pillows, lamps, art work, vases, throws, decorative items, rugs, etc. in boxes in the sun room. Then when we were ready to decorate a room, we would "shop" in the sun room. We found new places for our things that felt like repurposing/recycling and made us appreciate our things even more.

This list is becoming more and more complete as the thread continues. I especially like the toilet paper, new toilet seat and flashlight ideas, having learned these things the hard way. A smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and a fire extinguisher are also good things to unpack first.

I have been in places that were purified by burning sage. It gives a nice fragrance to the space.

For one move, we asked our pastor to come and do a blessing for the space and the activities that would take place in it. It was a trying time, and having this small "ceremony" was good for peace of mind.

"Cleaning the HVAC system" is a fallacy -- they cannot really be "cleaned." My parents have been incorporated in the HVAC industry for 38 years, and all you can do is change out your air filters. You cannot really "clean" the inside of ducts. If there is mold in them, they have to be ripped out and replaced. You don't want to put any wet products in your ducts, so the only thing that can be done to them is vacuuming them out, and that is not necessary. Additionally, there is no such thing as "annual maintenance" that requires a contractor to come out -- this is the biggest fraud going in the HVAC industry and so many people fall for it. the only maintenance that needs to be done is regularly changing out the air filters -- besides this, there is nothing else you can do to an HVAC system to make it last longer. They used to last 25-30 years, but you will be lucky to get 12 years out of a system nowadays due to them being of cheaper construction and materials.

If you buy a "used" home, wiping down the walls and all surfaces will prevent you from having a dust problem in the home. If you do this and vacuum once or twice or week, you will have very little dust to accumulate on your furnishings.

It's actually quite easy to change out the electrical outlets so they will be new like the electrical plates. I also change out my light switches and put in all new light fixtures. I either change out the interior door knobs, or rip out the doors and install new prehung doors. Painting all the walls and ceilings is a must. If you spend your money on a home, it should feel new when you move in.

Great list! We just purchased a house and went a little bit less than we could afford, so that we could afford to do all that you suggested AND removed popcorn ceilings, wood paneling and wallpaper, added hardwood floors and carpet,painted all cabinets (kitchen looks brand new), changed light fixtures ($500 gave the house a fresher brighter look), swapped out dated granite for quartz, and refaced the 80's fireplace. We also shopped for floor model appliances, and replaced them all. We live in SF, one of the most expensive markets, and we made a beautiful space without breaking the bank, and without moving a wall. See before and after

Hopefully I will have helped the next owners of my house. I left extra toilet paper in both bathrooms, and instructions/manuals for important things like the double oven, new HVAC system, and other items. Things I wish the former owners of MY house had left.

so many great points i always had bedding in my car so i had someone appointed to make all beds as soon as beds were put together... also last move a friend left a bottle of red which we emptied at the end of the day..

I always pack a weekend bag for each member of the household. This way you have all your needed toiletries, jammies and fresh change of clothes without looking through boxes. Also get beds made first so you can collapse in them at the end of moving day. New toilet seats are a must for me. Also pack a pretty good sized cooler for lite meals, cold drinks, etc until kitchen cleaned. Doggies spend the day at daycare.

@Annie, I always pack, like I'm going on vacation, as well. I usually do a whole week though, just in case! LOL....

@Apriltini, I don't know why some previous owners don't leave that stuff behind. We bought a foreclosure, and I was so impressed w/ how the previous owner put all the keys together, and labelled them. Plus, put manuals, and remotes (to garage, etc.) in places where we would find them right away. I could tell that they really loved the house, even after they left it.

All those locks you change with the local hardware sets (Home Depot, Ace, Lowe's, etc.) are not what you want to do and the reason is this: for about $5.00 an unsavory character can buy a "bump" key online. A "bump" key is a master key for most builder grade/hardware store grade locks. You CAN have a locksmith come out and "bump proof" or "neutralize" the locks you're never going to open from the outside so that no key can unlock them. Think about it -- do you really go in the house from the back door by unlocking it from the outside? You only bump proof those exterior doors you don't need to unlock from the outside. Emtek is one brand of locks that cannot be bumped. I learned all of this the hard way -- I walked in on an armed robbery of my home where it had been "bumped". Oh, and insurance requires special riders for jewelry, memorabilia, computers, collections, etc.

So get your front door and into-the-house garage door locks changed to really good quality ones and have the others neutralized. Bring TP, light bulbs, paper towel, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pjs and bedding, and a change of clothes for each member (and a favorite dolly or teddy bear for each child), and the charger for your cell phone. Also bring some cleaning supplies, a step ladder, shovel, hammer, pliers, a coat hanger, and some food.

When you know you are going to move, start weeding out your stuff. As you pack each box, write down on a master list what has gone into the box and put this list on the computer. Simply mark the box with a number. This "inventory" is invaluable (including for insurance). Anything you aren't taking with you can be donated and often the charities will pick up.

Great tips for new homeowners, especially the one about replacing the locks even if it is a brand new home. A few others that come to mind are to have the duct work cleaned, replace all filters on the furnace, air conditioner, refrigerator water systems..., and to have the septic system drained if applicable.

We are following Bud's excellent example by leaving tomorrow on a trip to help our son upgrade his new (old) home. It is a 60s already renovated for the most part, but a lot of little things can be done to improve it. He and his wife have three little girls under age 5 and can use all the help they can get! Great house with a lot of character.

I wish I would have redone all the floors before I moved in. Or at least, some rooms that I could have afforded. I replaced all the carpet in the bedrooms but not til a few month after I moved in. It would have been so much easier!

I've bought 2 fixer type homes in the past 10 years and I had both completely painted inside (neutral throughout both homes) and replaced all the flooring before moving in in addition to having them professionally cleaned. Everything else I waited until I was in the home to get a feel for what the home and I needed which included changing all the light fixtures and switches, organizers etc.

@solraven I bought a foreclosure too, and there was nothing from the previous owners, or if there were, the bank's contractors threw it out. I don't know. We got keys and one garage remote control. At least the place was fixed up so it was in move in condition. I'm grateful for that. I grew up in my mom's home. 37 years of history there, so I'm doing my best to honor that by fixing everything that was not in excellent working order, and doing my best to give the new owners useful info, and by leaving it clean. :)

Now we just need to take all your advice & good comments and make a new long "to do" list. Never realized there were so many things to do before a move. We've moved many times, sometimes to very old houses early 1900's, some mid old (50"s) and some new. But never have we changed locks. Guess it depends on where you live. In my whole life (I'm, 67) I have never locked a door, and don't plan to. In fact, I've always enjoyed people just walking in and saying hi. Love the idea of fresh flowers in a vase the day you get the house. Very refreshing. Painting and fixing and cleaning have always been priorities and refinishing hardwood floors before moving in.

@Derrick, I agree about the garage. We thought of that as well, but had so many other things going on, that instead, we made sure that all the shelves in the garage were on casters. Any anything not on wheels, would be pretty simple to move.

It's been almost two years, and although we haven't painted the garage, I've gone out there to clean it, and am thankful that I can just roll the shelving out of the way, to get behind it.

Replace all the angle stops and supply lines for all sinks, toilets, dishwasher, washing machine - even if they look OK. Many angle stops will be "frozen"; you could not shut them off if a leak occurs later. Also, (and this is a tad pricey) - unless you know for a fact that this has been done recently, replace garage door coil springs. Most people never lubricate them as needed and they will famously break at a most inconvenient time.

when we sold our old house, we left a notebook with the cards/names of the heat & a/c service, electricians, & plumber we used, copies of roof warranty which they could transfer and continue, along with the gutter warranties also transferable, and appliance, new ceiling fan, & warranty books... we also left the local take-out & delivery magnets on the fridge... we didn't need them & it felt like a nice way to welcome them...

Just moved and had the carpets and bathroom/living room tile floors steam cleaned. Also had a locksmith rekey all the locks in the house to one key. No more multiple keys to carry. Also replaced door stops with the hinge adjustable stoppers wherever possible. (I dislike trying to clean under the floor door stop.)

Have the hardwood floors refinished before you do anything. If you don't do it before you move in it will be a much bigger deal later. Paint the walls and ceilings after the floors are finished, there will be a lot of residual dust from the refinishing process. If you have freshly painted walls before the floors are redone you will have to go back and wipe all the walls down and touch up the pain.

Nobody will like this, but we've replaced the toilet seats 5 times already on this blog. I could be a grinch and suggest that everyone read all the posts before making their own but what a drag, right?
How about this? If your post is about toilet seats, open the blog and use your browser tool bar to FIND key words. That way you can easily make sure your contribution is original.

Husband and I rehab houses as a hobby. Some we have kept and used as rentals, others were to 'flip', and, the last one we chose to live in. First thing we do is replace ALL entry door lock set's and the doors (especially if the doors are damaged in some way). We also make sure the windows have locks that actually lock...if not, then the window is replaced. Sometimes we have lock parts in our ever growing parts bins, if we do, we do a repair. It's really really important to do a really thorough check of ALL appliances that come with the home. Don't forget to check the water heater(s) and the heating system(s)... IF the seller doesn't list the age, ask the Realtor to find out for you. While my husband is installing locks and such, I measure windows and put the measurements on a bright, large sticky note on or near the window. That way when I bring the new blinds in, I don't have to guess which one goes to what window. We have a routine... the day of closing, hubby and I put tools and a ladder in the truck, and don't forget a set of work clothes.
I loved the article...
As for 'purifying' a house... I use a smudge stick and hyssop

kroze, have you never been in a space that makes you uneasy or uncomfortable? Been in a place that you felt like the air was heavy or oppressive and you were unable to explain it?? Have you never touched something that made you want to get as far away from it as possible? Or felt the calm of something that you could not explain?? Many people have those sensations. It isn't easy to explain it to others, it isn't easy to live with it either. Burning herbs or spices removes those uneasy sensations. Keep in mind, not all the little *shocks* or *sparks* that happen touching people or things are just static electricity.

The nice thing (maybe the only nice thing) about cleaning every inch yourself is that you get a real hands-on for all of the house, from top to bottom. I learned I so much about our home doing this! There were tiny things, like a cracked face plate on an electrical outlet. Gaps in the molding. Not things that would be divulged on a home inspection.
Since I am using my iPad, not my Mac, I can't search for toilet. But I routinely replace toilets. Forget about the seat, junk the whole thing; unless it's new, donate it! I will scrub almost anything, but not someone else's old grungy toilet! Yuck!

If it wasn't a new house, I'd replace any wall to wall carpet, the toilet seats, and make sure the doors all had handles (matching), rather than knobs. I also always put in non-stick shelf paper/drawer liners in all cabinets, closets, kitchen, baths--in new houses, too. When I went to put my last house on the market, bought new, I wiped down the shelf paper and drawer liners, flipped them over, and both the surfaces underneath and the liners looked brand new. A little touch up paint on the shelf edges in the pantry and the thing looked like it had never been used. If you know you aren't staying forever, do your future self a favor and prevent wear and tear from happening. I would never consider buying a house without an inspection by my own inspector, so I would also make sure any issues discovered were taken care of before I moved in.

I’ve read a few posts above and can definitely relate. I think moving can be hectic and a lot of trouble at times. However, with A1 Moving & Storage, my move was fast and easy. I moved from Jupiter to West Palm Beach earlier this year, and I contacted A1. They were prompt and very professional with their services. My stuff was picked up on time and none of my items got damaged during the transit. I do recommend you check these guys out if you are planning a move. Give them a call today (561) 625-0600 or check out their website at http://www.a1moving.com/

I'm not sure why you'd have to replace all carpets, toilet seat etc - what's wrong with a good clean? Far more environmentally sound than the 'chuck it away and buy a new one approach'. There is a limit to landfill too.

@plufter, that's the truth! Fortunately, my house was clean. There had been one owner, who had moved ten months before I bought and the house was only two years old. I still bleached all the bathrooms after I closed and got the keys. I wanted it to be spic and span when I moved in and had to go out of state to meet the movers. There was no need to spend extra $$$ when all it needed was a spit shine!!

25 year old carpets do not "clean" to the standards of an asthmatic person's need for clean lungs, not to mention worn out completely and threadbare in spots. Esp when there was a smoker in the house. Takes painted walls to seal them, scraped ceilings removing nicotine stained popcorn required too with additional painting. Did put down bamboo flooring to be friendly. Used low VOC paints.

Since you are doing so many pre-move-in steps, in addition to painting the garage, consider steam cleaning and/or epoxying the garage floor, especially if you are going to be storing any of your household goods in there for awhile. We had ours epoxied and it looks and feels so much cleaner and fresh than the oil-stained grey concrete. Inexpensive or DIY.

This article reminds me of when my husband & I helped move some friends to France, my hubby drove their truck of belongings, and it was so disorganised, that halfway through packing, they had to leave to meet a different ferry from the one we were travelling on,we packed some acres of unwanted crap that day, unwittingly....then once we'd got on the ferry, I casually said, to my ex-military spouse...''you do have their address, if we miss them at the port?''.....Nope!....Heck!!
Once we'd met & followed them to the new/old place, we were scrubbing like crazy putting bedrooms together as we were determined to at least sleep clean!, and they lit the fire, and went off to shop for dinner, while we discovered the chimney leaked and smoked the upstairs!...So by the time they got back it looked like the house was on fire, with all the upstairs windows wide open on a brisk early February day,but we managed, after a simple supper and wine...

My move-in list was: have a dumpster delivered; remove all the carpeting (there was a cat with attitude and a smoker); then clean, clean, paint the hideous, clean; have new flooring installed. After that, lived in it, saw how the natural light affected the house throughout the year, then decorated. The smartest thing I did in hindsight, was having the flooring put down before the furniture was delivered.

In addition to getting to know the people who service heating and cooling, I've found that getting to know a local service station is a good idea. Even if their gasoline is more expensive, go there alot when you first move in, Then, one snowy morning when you're stuck or you have a flat tire, they'll be willing to come help you. AFter you have lived in a place for a while, you develop your support system, but that first winter can be cold in more ways than the weather if you don't know any helpers.

Forgot to say - I heartily agree with whiskeys girl - a dumpster can be your best friend! And take your time on big decisions - I've moved a million times, and each time the changes I made right at first were not the ones I would have made if I waited, and the things I did after 6 months or a year of living there were better.

Oh, and remember where you've left your keys, purse, wallet whatever - in a new place you don't have your habits yet, and after the first day of cleaning I often spend 20 minutes trying to remember where I put my stuff.

If you have a gas furnace, install carbon monoxide detectors first thing. There are new ones that are a carbon/smoke detector combo, and a lot of new innovations mean models you can check from your phone, some that give you a vocal warning when batteries are low, some you can just wave your hand in front of if there's toast burning so that you don't have to find something to stand on or something long to poke the unit with to make it turn off. Also, get the ducts cleaned and sealed if you have central air. It's not cheap (ours was just under $2000 [with our service contract discount] for a 2082 square foot house plus about 600 square feet of finished basement). However, we've already seen a drop in our utility bill, and we can actually feel the warm air coming through the vents in our bedroom, which we couldn't before. Our furnace was putting out CO2 and oxygen at rates nearing dangerous; a fairly simple and relatively inexpensive adjustment got everything back to kosher. The clean and seal of the ducts means our duct system, in terms of air loss, went from having the equivalent of an EIGHT SQUARE FOOT hole to having a four INCH square hole. Safety is the most important thing, but helping yourself save money (and having a house with consistent temperatures throughout) is a big bonus.

Yes, change all locks, including any lock on your shed if you have one. Change the toilet seats (if not the whole toilet - you can get a dual-flush chair-height toilet for $98 at Home Depot and installation takes less than an hour). Making switch plates and vent covers uniform is great, and it makes a really drastic change when you also change out the outlets and switches themselves - PLEASE make sure the power is off first! Shampoo any carpets, unless they were just done. While the rooms are empty, go ahead and give them a close look and spackle any spots that need it - it will make painting much easier later. Painting the ceilings is also much easier while rooms are still empty - or while everything is still in boxes, at least. If you have to paint with furniture in the room, cover it; and cover your floor wall to wall. I always scrub down the insides of cabinets and drawers - it totally skeeves me out to find someone else's hair in my bathroom drawers.

Some things you just need to live with for a while to figure out what you want to do with them. We have a 'problem' family room - long and narrow with a sloped ceiling, a sliding glass door on one long wall which prevents seating there, outlets in odd places - and after four years, I've finalled figured out how to fix it all. I had to spend a while looking at it from the kitchen, mulling it over while drinking coffee and looking for ideas in Houzz articles! The room we were going to use for our guest room will now be the library; I didn't think our bookshelves would fit in the room, but had to temporarily move them in there with the queen-sized bed was already in there and discovered they will actually fit just fine without crowding. I'm sure our guests will appreciate being in the room with the bigger closet now, and it gives me an excuse to buy a closet organizer for puzzles and board games in the smaller closet.

I disagree with a comment stating that there is no reason to hire a contractor to inspect heating or AC units. If you have gas heaters then you definitely want them checking, I knew I smelled gas and my husband diligently checked all the connections with seal testing soap. Finally the AC guy came by and sure enough we had a crack in the furnace. Not bad enough to warrant an immediate change but enough that we should keep an eye out on it and start saving up to change it out. However, his advice about having the vents cleaned is dead on. Most of that cost is labor and if you pay to have them cleaned you probably are better off replacing them. We've never had a quote for cleaning come in for less than the cost of replacing them.

Normally a home inspection will check everything and give you a full report (we received a binder with full report including photos taken at inspection...the inspection was $400. Anyone who buys should get a home inspection. Our purchase was an "as is REO" however we wanted a full inspection to fully understand the homes "as is" condition.

Oh, gypsyrose17, yes, this was a year or two after we moved in. We knew it was an older house with an original ac, heater and water heater. so it was a matter of time before it needed to be replaced. But, the annual inspection turned up what my husband's checking and swearing it was pregnancy hormones didn't.

We also bought an "as is" foreclosure (by now I think everyone here knows THAT story!) Since we were going VA financing and they are notoriously picky, we went back to the bank/owner with some requests to fix a roof issue (minor, but there), to install the half bath sink lying on the floor (clearly they took a better sink with them and just dumped this "utility-type" sink in there) and a couple of other things. We asked for a Home Warranty (good thing, our water heater went the first day!) and a couple of other items. Shockingly, they agreed to all of it!

We would never buy a house without a home inspection (which may or may not include the HVAC system, so make sure you are are of what it covers), or a termite inspection (required anyway). In California, working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are required when selling your house.

Count me in the "new toilet seats and new locks"--tho I'm liking that keypad idea now--category. we also replaced all the carpeting in the bedrooms (unsalvageable, and the house was only 7 years old...that pretty much set the tone) but we painted everything FIRST.

and yes: clean clean clean. and then clean some more. You'll be happy you did!

I realize not everyone has the luxury of time to do all of this (former military wife here--6 moves in the first 7 years of our marriage!) and many, maybe MOST people have to prioritize.

But this list/article gives great advice and hits the highlights (filled out by all the wonderful responses!)

Oh yes, even here in notoriously "independent" Texas, all of the above are required. If your lender has any kind of national presence, their rules will require that you do whatever the most restrictive state requires. Even checking for lead paint and smoke detectors is a must. Although, carbon monoxide monitors and earthquake proofing aren't, odd that.

we are in the midst of remodeling. We got the carpets bathrooms and kitchen cleaned before we moved in, but I wish we had replaced the floors and painted before . and had the ducts professionally cleaned. Once the painters are done we will. We have cleaners come in every two weeks to assist in keeping the house clean while all the remodeling is done.

The last thing I wanted to do was paint first. I needed to live in it a bit & see what colors really spoke to me. My place is 100 yo & the new "color of the year" just wasn't gonna cut it.

What I DID do...have my home blessed. Ran a deed search to get a more precise build date (I knew 1935 was way off!) and lastly....took my time & let the place speak to me. What I may have changed on day one...I'd never change today!

Great tips. Moving pretty much always takes longer than you think it is going to take. So, be smart and plan ahead. There is lots of packing and organizing you can get out of the way two months in advance of your move. Thanks for sharing your innovative ideas.

I agree with all of your suggestions. It is so much easier to get all of the cleaning, painting and updates/upgrades done prior to moving in. It goes more quickly and I usually have the funds available at move in, rather than down the line, to hire painters, purchase new flooring, tile, water heaters, closet organizers and more.

After our experience, if moving into an older house I would now consider having the pipes snaked and probably a video camera line inspection. This is especially important if the home sat empty for a period of time.

Great post. We didn't do anything on the list! Guess the excitement of moving into our first home blinded us to the obvious! Previous owner said they had cleaned so took their word for it and just started moving boxes in. I had a mind to clean the carpets first but my husband was extremely desperate to move in, so that's what we did! 5 months in and half our stuff is still in boxes! Which is annoying and claustrophobic in a 2-bdrm bungalow with no storage! In our heads the work we want to do on our house is simple enough, but with 2 toddlers, and mu husband's work schedule, as well as a tight budget (window treatments are the absolute last on our list!) it's been quite a challenge to move forward! Having said that, our ideas for wall colors and storage solutions continue to evolve the longer we're here, as we become more aware of what we actually need for our home to function well. But first on my list to do is to get the lock changed (one-door home) - and would love to get pest control in, but because our next major project (recently re-did the bathroom - still finishing the painting not the most perfectly prepped job but we just want to finish it!) is the kitchen anyway, so I think we'll hold off for now. Anyway hindsight always provides 20/20 vision!

Sorry if these are redundant, as I did not read all these many comments, but here are four things I suggest:

Make sure your phone, internet, TV, audio, wireless, etc. are all properly feeding into the house and to the areas where you will connect them inside. You may be changing some services, or upgrading the technologies. But watch those installation guys: sometimes they just drill a hole right through the whole wall, stick a wire through, and leave.

Stock the bar, at least a little, so you can have a reward after those days of cleaning, lugging, and arranging. Don't forget the non-alcoholic beverages as well as those which are stronger. Same goes for tea and coffee supplies so you don't have to keep running off to Starbucks. And get some music or other radio going from the beginning to keep you excited.

Have a supply of old blankets, tarps, etc. to set stuff on while you are cleaning and sorting, so you don't ruin your newly waxed floors (you did do that already didn't you?).

Designate one spot in every room for "things I don't yet know what to do with." You can keep up your momentum and not waste time obsessing over where to put something that you'll more easily figure out later. Same goes for "things to spend time with . . . LATER," such as old pictures, books, magazine articles, and a host of other things you'll "find" as you work.